He was celebrated by Philadelphia residents with the first Rocky Day in honor of his Oscar-winning 1976 film Rocky.
But Sylvester Stallone also gave something back when he delighted a young fan by joining him in reciting a speech from the 2006 sequel “Rocky Balboa.”
The 77-year-old actor and filmmaker was being filmed in Philly on Sunday by the city’s Rocky statue when a boy named Ro began shouting an impassioned speech Stallone gave in the film, which was his last in the series which he starred in had the lead role.
The day was filled with more honors for Stallone, who received a key to the city.
The original speech occurred in Rocky Balboa, when the title character tells her son – played by This Is Us star Milo Ventimiglia – how difficult life can be.
Sylvester Stallone, 77, thrilled a little boy named Ro when he joined him to recite a speech from Rocky Balboa (2006) while he was in Philadelphia on Sunday, December 3, for the first Rocky Day -Celebrate holiday
Sly was standing next to Philly’s Rocky statue when Ro, who was filming a similar video with Hulk Hogan, approached. He shouted a speech that Stallone gave to his adult son in the film
Sly’s fan interaction was featured in a TikTok video from Ro’s account. The actor was pictured next to his statue, which shows a young Rocky in his boxing gear with his arms outstretched in triumph as men held up umbrellas to keep him dry on a rainy day.
Then the little boy was led to him, where he began to shout the speech.
A broad smile crossed Stallone’s face and he looked visibly pleased with the performance before he began to join in together, although he soon stopped again and left Ro to continue alone.
He paused to reach for a high five that turned into a handshake, and then he pulled the boy closer for a warm hug. Ro wasn’t quite finished yet, so he finished his speech before he and the older actor hugged one last time, beaming as they looked out at the crowd surrounding them.
The wrestling fan is not familiar with the portrayal as he had previously approached Hulk Hogan about a similar performance.
Fittingly, Hogan even had a role in the Rocky series. In 1982’s Rocky III, he starred as a professional wrestler named Thunderlips, modeled after his WWF persona, who engages Rocky in a charity wrestling match in which he destroys the boxer.
During a conversation with Hogan in 2006, Stallone revealed that the hardest blow he suffered while filming the series came from Hogan, and that it was left out of the finished film because he was so “traumatized” by it mentioned that his collarbone had been shattered by the blow and would “protrude through my flesh” when he looked at it. Fortunately, he was not permanently injured by the hit.
In the Rocky Balboa clip that Ro cited, Stallone can be seen arguing with his son before an upcoming boxing match.
Ventimiglia, whose character works as a lawyer, wears a nice suit and coat while on the street with his father and urges Rocky not to come out of retirement to feud with a younger heavyweight champion.
He mentions the advantages that his father’s name has given him in life, including his job, but then says that the publicity Rocky attracts could harm what he has built.
But Rocky reminds him how hard life can be – in contrast to how easy it was for him growing up with a famous father – while reaffirming his love for his son.
“Let me tell you something you already know: The world is not all sunshine and rainbows,” he says when given the opportunity to speak. “It’s a very mean and nasty place, and I don’t care how tough you are – it will bring you to your knees and keep you there forever if you let it.” You, me or no one will hit that hard like life.
“But it’s not about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can be hit and keep moving forward.” How much you can endure and keep going. That’s how you win!’ Rocky shouts before urging his son not to point the finger.
Sly was visibly tickled and beamed from ear to ear before shouting the most passionate lines with the child
After reaching the end, Stallone reached out for a high five, which ended in a handshake, before pulling Ro closer and hugging him
Rocky Balboa (2006) was the sixth and final Rocky film starring Stallone. His son (Milo Ventimiglia, L) complained that his return to fighting would hurt his career, prompting Rocky to give a speech about how hard the world can be
1976’s Rocky, which Stallone also wrote, made him a star and became a major box office hit and a critical sensation. The film won three Oscars, including for best film
The 2006 film was the sixth film in the Rocky series and the last to star Stallone. It received positive reviews from critics and became a box office hit.
Stallone reprized his supporting role in the first two “Creed” films, but sat out March’s “Creed III” due to money problems.
The 1976 original made Stallone a star. He originally wrote the script and was in intense negotiations with the studio to allow him to star in the film as well, as the studio hoped to find a more established star while retaining his script.
He persevered and eventually nabbed the title role, and his strategy proved worthwhile after “Rocky” became the highest-grossing film of 1976 (and the second-highest-grossing film after “Star Wars” in 1977). The film was also nominated for ten Oscars and won three, including Best Picture.